a few crazy thoughts that just arrived...

[spreerider]

Solar pannels are not environmentaly friendly either, the power to create one, make the glass and silicon wafers and all the other parts and assemble them is higher than the average lifetime power generated by the unit, they are good for remote stations and such but not for real genertion of power
a better method of solar generation is to focus light with mirrors onto a pipe of water and then use the heating of the water to make steam and turn a turbine, but even this is inefficient compared to geothermal, wind, and hydro power.

[DanG]

Costco had a couple of wind based generators on their website not too long ago. If I recall correctly, they were designed for boats, but I'm sure you could use them at home, just need to tinker a bit.

[Pescador]

Speaking of crazy thoughts, would solar panels work with light spilled from reef lighting? Visions of panels lining a light hood.

[spreerider]

it would generate some dc power but you could only use it to charge a battery or something similar then use an inverter to power a device, not very efficient but possible
the initial cost would probably not be worth the possible savings.

[Trigger Man]

Originally Posted by Pescador

Speaking of crazy thoughts, would solar panels work with light spilled from reef lighting? Visions of panels lining a light hood.

Using solar panels to work of he spilled lighting would save us all tonnes of money.
Brian you may have just stumbled onto the next million dollar idea.

[michika]

This is an awesome thread, and the ideas that are popping up here have lots of potential benefits.

Did this kick off because I posted that solar tube thread?

[untamed]

Sorry...no, for some reason I was thinking about hydro electric power generation and my mind wandered....so I wrote it down and this thread was born. Yes, it is interesting.

[Okguy]

We are thinking of setting something like this at our cabin.

http://energy.saving.nu/hydroenergy/small.shtml

It may be possible on your system but I'm guessing you would need to find a generator that wouldn't leach any toxins into your tank. It would also not be a permanent solution. The energy required to pump the water up to your tank would be greater than the power generated by the turbine (at least I think it would be). But it would be a great way to keep a battery charged longer during power outages.